Monday 2nd February 2009
Cisse rubbishes exit claims
Sunderland striker Djibril Cisse has rejected reports he is looking to engineer an early exit from the Stadium of Light.
Reports in the Sunday press suggested Cisse, who is with the Wearside outfit for the season from Marseille, was unhappy with the exits of Pascal Chimbonda and El-Hadji Diouf.
Chimbonda has returned to Spurs having only moved to the North East in the summer, with Diouf joining Blackburn after a similarly brief stay.
But Cisse is adamant he will not be leaving Ricky Sbragia's side and is keen to extend his stay, provided the club can retain their Premier League status.
The former Liverpool striker has made an instant impact with Sunderland and was on target in Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby draw with Newcastle at St James' Park.
Cisse told the Sunderland Echo: "I am going to speak to the reporter who did this story to ask where he got his information.
"If he thinks I want to leave then he has more information than me. It is not true.
"I am disappointed this story has been written and I don't think it is fair to me or Sunderland.
"I really need to put the record straight. I spoke a week ago with the chairman about my future. We're really positive - we are just waiting to make sure we stay in the Premier League, then we will make a decision.
"As I say, it is a shame this story has been written about me wanting to go because it is not the truth."
Join us on Facebook